What the DVSA Alertness topic covers — observation, anticipation, distraction and fatigue — with the Highway Code rules the questions are drawn from.
What does “Alertness” mean in the theory test?
Alertness is about seeing hazards early enough to act on them: effective observation, anticipating what other road users will do, staying concentrated, and knowing when you’re not fit to drive — whether through tiredness, distraction or impaired vision.
Which Highway Code rules should I revise?
Focus on rules 90–94 (fitness to drive, vision), 148–150 (avoiding distraction), 159–161 (moving off, mirrors and blind spots) and rule 91’s guidance on rest breaks: at least 15 minutes every two hours on long journeys.
Test yourself on Alertness
Free Alertness practice questions in the official four-option format, with explained answers and Highway Code references.
Start the Alertness practice testFrequently asked questions
What does the Alertness topic cover in the theory test?
Alertness covers observation, anticipating other road users, concentration, avoiding distraction (including mobile phones), and recognising and managing tiredness at the wheel.
How many questions come from the Alertness topic?
The DVSA doesn't publish a fixed per-topic count — the 50 questions in your test are drawn across all 14 topics, so revise every category rather than question-spotting.
Revise the rest of the syllabus in the 14 DVSA topics directory, or sit the full free mock theory test.